2018 Kia Niro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 39,824 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Kia Niro, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.4% was above the average for small SUVs of a similar age (90.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 2,131 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,319 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 1,270 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 586 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 169 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 117 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,248 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 883 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 468 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 433 |
| 5 | Washers | 298 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 269 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.1% | 9,208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 2,682 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 2,303 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,203 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 677 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 405 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 10,922 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 14,655 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,745 | 9.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,459 | 8.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,939 | 7.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,099 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,733 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 7,861 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 7,996 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 8,090 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 8,144 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Niro
Before buying a 2018 Kia Niro, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Kia Niros pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 39,824 2018 Kia Niro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Kia Niro?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2018 Niro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,824 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.